In Odesa, the SBU exposed and blocked smuggling of sailors across the state border into the temporarily annexed territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

SBU officers and investigators established that the scheme was organized by the leadership of one of the international groups of maritime companies. They hired Ukrainian sailors on their ships for a long time. Then, the company's tugs illegally went to Crimea and returned to Ukrainian ports following the executed services. Thus, the sailors violated the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

Within the criminal proceedings initiated for illegal movement of persons across the state border of Ukraine, the law enforcement carried out twelve searches of the companies’ offices and ships. During the searches, the operatives seized vessel papers, computer equipment, flash drives, contracts concluded with Russian residents, almost 20 seals of private companies, as well as documents on tugboat freight. Allegedly, the group of companies organized illegal channels of smuggling sailors to closed ports of Ukraine in the temporarily annexed Crimea.

After forensic examinations, the seized materials are to be used as evidence of illegal activity.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the case and bring the offenders to justice.

The operation was carried out jointly with the Odesa Maritime Guard Detachment of the Regional Sea Guard Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine under the legal supervision of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.